Chelsea 01 Cech 02 Ivanovic 24 Cahill 26 Terry 03 Filipe Luis 21 Matic 12 Mikel 22 Willian 08 Oscar 10 Hazard 19 Diego Costa Substitutes 05 Zouma 07 Ramires 11 Drogba 14 Schürrle 18 Remy 23 Schwarzer 28 Azpilicueta Hull City 01 McGregor 27 Elmohamady 21 Dawson 06 Davies 05 Chester 26 Robertson 07 Meyler 14 Livermore 08 Huddlestone 18 Jelavic 24 Aluko Substitutes 02 Rosenior 04 Bruce 09 Hernández 11 Brady 16 Jakupovic 25 RamÃrez 29 Quinn This will be an interesting game. Last time out in the premier league Chelsea were outfoxed by Alan Pardew's Newcastle side, and although a comprehensive CL victory against Sporting CP. on wednesday allayed some fears over a winter slump, questions still remain. Can Chelsea cope with suspensions over the Christmas period? How reliant are Chelsea on Diego Costa's goals? And can Chelsea maintain their early season form for the rest of the year? Its good to see "Dave" get a rest, and the impressive felipe luis take his place on the left accordingly. In midfield we have a wall not even a diamond tipped jackhammer could break down with mikel and matic in the middle and in the attacking positions we have a nicely rested front 4. COYBs!!!
whenever I see #12, I always fear the worst! Hope DC finds his scoring boot! here is another scary stat. Chris Foy has sent off 6 of our players in his last 8 matches against us. He likes to play against us.
Already 2 very good passes within 30 mins (could have been assists) from # 12 to Hull what the heck does he bring to our team? Would rather play Happy there as a DM!!
You can tell that it's winter time cant you? It wasn't the best performance Chelsea have given us this season, but it was good enough. At the start of the game we played with a high line and pressed relentlessley. Hazard, Willian and Oscar hustled and harried hull meaning their play was disrupted, and when they did manage to pump the ball into the midfield area it bounced straight back off the matic and mikel combination. Oscar should never had enough space to whip such a delightfull cross in, nor should Eden have had enough space to head in off the far post, but we made the most of the opportunity-something Chelsea and in particular hazard have been critisised for this year. This goal changed the game: Hull, perversely, seemed to relax after it and began to press themselves, a tactic that was aided by Chelsea dropping deep and waiting for the counter. The lack of creativity in the middle of the park was highlighted as it was Chelsea's turn to be sloppy. Both Mikel and Matic were poor in possession which meant Costa struggled to get into the game. In the second half the same balance of play was maintained as Hull showed great desire and discipline to restrict Chelsea's play-that is of course until Huddlestone found himself in the shower 30 minutes earlier than planned for a rash tackle. From here Hull fell apart. The desire seemed to dissipate, and the effective high press had to be abandoned as Chelsea went through the gears. Hazard picked up the ball and created a beautiful goal, which Diego Costa finished with aplomb. On 75 minutes the flicks and tricks came out, with several great chances created (Schurrle just on the 'D' was the standout ), Hull couldn't deal with the man disadvantage, and Chelsea strolled home with all 3 points in the bag. It wasn't our best game, but we did what we needed to do and that's all anyone can ask.
We lacked the cutting edge to really threaten your defence today, but had Huddlestone not been a complete moron, we may have kept up that good spell at the beginning of the second half and nicked a point. I think that's the worst performance this Chelsea side have put in this Season, although that speaks volumes about the quality of the side; playing bad but winning (in the end) comfortably. My respect for this Chelsea side flew straight out the window though with the irritating and embarrassing display of simulation. Cahill should have been sent off for arguably the worst of the three dives. If that's what pouring millions and millions of pounds into a team buys you, then I'm quite fine with fighting relegation every Season.
Chris Foy didn't seem to have the fitness to keep up with the game yesterday. I saw him getting in the way of play on several occasions. I know the referee is supposed to be part of the field of play but he helped Hull break down many Chelsea attacks by getting in the way. At least Chris Foy sent off an opposition player this time but I thought the yellow card for Costa was unecessary - can't remember all the other yellow cards for both Hull and Chelsea but he's a bit too card happy. Anyway, 8 wins from 8 home Premier League matches.
I agree re: Costa, didn't ask for the free-kick and just got back up and was booked. That was Foy making up for what he should have done, and that's send Cahill off. It was a dive by Cahill, and he brings his own reputation down by doing it. Hopefully he doesn't do it again. He was probably a bit lucky not to go for the challenge on Aluko, but if he had connected with his studs he would have gone for sure. Willian went down without being touched was a shame as his work rate throughout the rest of the game was top notch. What a game we have got next week, City can be top if they thrash Palace before we visit the scene of bad memories from last season, Stoke away. Hopefully we can get the three points as I don't see Palace doing us any favours. Come On You Blues!!!!
With regard to Gary Cahill, I'm wondering if there's tiredness setting in. Playing for England and 2 top games per week playing for Chelsea may be taking its toll on him. It's going to be a gruelling season for all our top players that's for sure. Jose Mourinho, on the official website, states: I like it [the festive schedule], I like to play,’ said Mourinho. ‘It’s easier because the players will all be involved. They are all needed, they are all going to play. This situation is useful to manage intensity, tempo and fatigue. You have to make decisions, like I did against Sporting, choosing which players to rest but keeping a structure which allows the team to not lose its dynamic. .......the pressure's thus on Jose to work out which players can be rested without affecting results over Christmas. COYB
I thought Cahill and Willians were definite dives and embarrassing tbh but I genuinely don't think Costa dived. Pretty disappointed in the theatrics but it shouldn't paper over the fact Hull are a very poor side and were never going to get anything today regardless of any red card or penalty decisions. We have dropped off the pace a bit and maybe dropping to 2nd in the New Year will give us the kick up the backside we need.
Manchester City are tiring as well and their star man - Sergio Aguero - is out. A laboured win for them at Leicester - thanks to Super Frank - when you'd have expected them to have won by at least 3 or more clear goals. Chelsea top for the rest of the season.
.....Chris Foy yellow/red carded 4 of your players. Sooner or later you'll be losing those yellow carded players through suspension as the yellow and red cards rack up against them. In a game where you're unlikely to get any kind of result, it seems a bit pointless in Steve Bruce instructing your players to be so gung ho and aggressive.
I didn't mention Costa, because I think it was a make up call by the ref, something I hate. I want Chelsea to win, but I want to win in the right way. Chelsea can be boring and defensive, even stand up for themselves when teams get tough, not start the trouble though, not cheat. I know the arguments and they don't wash with me, 'it is being professional', 'it is used against us', 'everyone does it', all of which are true but instead of fighting against it players roll over an accept it. Refs, even the best of them, can not cope with intentional cheating all the time. They get told via an earpiece that they mucked up and decide to even things out, which to me is just as bad as a player cheating, for how can you be certain one make up decision truly negates the missed foul and it is often given against a player who did nothing much wrong, which suggests to me the officials see the whole team as culpable which at that moment in time is ridiculous. So the farce deepens.
And where he could have easily picked up 3pts at old toilet - he asked his players to bend over and take it up like champs!!
